FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
Stephen Coffin, one of the
original proprietors of Portland, donated to
the city the north half of block 134,
between Second and Third streets, to be used
for school purposes. In January, 1865, this
site was exchanged for the north half of
block 160, on Harrison street between Fifth
and Sixth streets. On this ground a school
house was erected, in 1866, at a cost of
$9,941. In this building, known as the
Harrison Street School, school was convened
January 22, 1866, with R. K. Warren,
principal and Miss M. N. Tower, Miss V. P.
Stephens and Miss M. Kelly, assistants: For
the first quarter of the school year there
were enrolled 286 pupils.
In 1871 an extension to the building was
erected at a cost of $4,995. Six years later
two more extensions were added at a cost of
$5,840. The entire structure was destroyed
by fire on Thursday morning May 29, 1879,
but was rebuilt the same year at a cost of
$21,800. September 6, 1887, the new building
was partially destroyed by fire. Contracts
were soon after let for rebuilding, and in
January, 1888, the present strncture was
completed.
Mr. Warren was succeeded as principal in
1867, by J. P. Garlick, who remained one
year and for a short period thereafter Mr.
Warren again held the position. In April,
1869, I. W. Pratt became principal, a post
he has ever since most ably filled.
Atkinson School
The
crowded condition of the public schools in
1866 made the erection of another building a
necessity, and the board of directors
decided to establish a school in the north
part of the city. A block was purchased in
Couch's addition on the west side of North
Tenth street, between C and D streets. Here,
in the summer of 1867, a seven room building
was erected, costing over $12,000. School
was opened in February; 1868 with, G. S.
Pershin as principal, and Misses E. J. Way,
A. S. Northrup and Carrie L. Polk, as
assistants. During the first quarters there
were enrolled 216 pupils. In 1877 two wings
were added to the building at a cost of
$4,121 and in 1888, on the same block, a
two-story, four-room building was erected,
costing $8,419.
G. S. Pershin was principal two and a half
years; T. H. Craw-ford, two years; S. W.
King, one year; W. W, Freeman, three years;
R. K. Warren, one year; E. E. Chapman, one
year; Miss Ella C. Sabin, eleven years. Miss
Ruth E. Rounds, the present principal, began
work here in 1888. She is assisted by
fifteen teachers.
"Atkinson" school was named in honor of the
late Rev. George H. Atkinson. It was for
several years known as the North school.
High School
This
department of the school system of Portland
was instituted in 1869. On April 26, of that
year, the plan took definite shape and a
High school was organized with quarters on
the second floor of the North school
building, with J. W. Johnson as principal
and Miss M. N. Tower (Mrs. F. K. Arnold), as
assistant. In December, 1873, this
department was transferred to the second
story, north wing, of the Central building
and in October, 1874, it was removed to the
second floor of the new addition. In
September, 1879, it was moved to the second
floor of the Park school. Here it was
conducted until the completion of the
present High School building.
This building was begun in 1883 and finished
in 1885. It is a brick structure and located
on a block bounded by Twelfth, Morrison,
Lownsdale and Alder streets. The style is
what is known as the Transition or
Semi-Norman, which prevailed during the
reign of Henry II and Richard I.
Architecturally it presents a most pleasing
appearance, while for the purposes intended
it is one of the best arranged buildings on
the Pacific coast.
It is 140x200, in dimensions, and the main
building is three stories, besides a
basement and attic in height, while two
towers adorn the front of the building, one
168 and the other 140 feet in height. On the
first floor are six class rooms, one
recitation room and a library; on the second
floor six class rooms, a recitation room,
museum, High school library,
superintendent's and principal's offices; on
the third floor two class rooms, art room,
model room, laboratory, dressing room and
assembly hall. The basement story is divided
into four play rooms. The principle, upon
which light, ventilation and heating are
secured, is such as is approved by the best
authorities on such matters, and it is
believed the building, in these regards, is
as nearly perfect as any school structure in
the country.
The building was
projected under the directorship of John
Wilson, Charles Hodge and William Wadhams,
in March, 1883. Mr. Hodge dying March 30,
1883, James Steel was elected to fill the
unexpired term of one year. William Stokes
was employed as architect, under whose
direction the entire work was designed and
completed. The" cost of the block was
$30,000 and the building over $130,000.
At the close of the first term of the High
school in 1869, Miss Tower resigned and Miss
M. M. Morrison filled her place until
November, 1869, when Miss M. A. Hodgdon was
elected first assistant. Mr. Johnson's
acknowledged ability and earnestness,
supplemented by Miss Hodgdon's efficiency
and long experience in teaching, laid the
foundation for a higher education which had
long been demanded by the intelligent people
of Portland. In 1872, Alexander Meacham was
elected the first teacher of French, and in
1874, Rev. John Rosenberg was elected as
special teacher of German.
The first regular examination by a board of
examiners for pro-motion to the High school,
was held on the 20th day of September, 1873.
Thirteen pupils were examined, eleven of
whom were members of the North school-the
other two being members of a private school.
In 1876, 137 pupils were enrolled at the
High school, and Rev. T. L. Eliot, then
county school superintendent, says in his
report for the year: "The High school is
constantly increasing in members and
influence for good in the community. The
country is beginning to look at its scholars
as prospective teachers-a thorough education
and culture are imparted, and full
opportunity is here given to young men and
women to fit themselves for the business of
life."
Mr. Johnson was succeeded as principal, in
1886, by A. J. Anderson, who retained the
position for one year, when R. K. Warren was
chosen. Mr. Warren remained until 1888, when
Miss Ella C. Sabin was elected to the dual
position of city superintendent and
principal of the High school. Miss Sabin has
since most ably filled both positions. She
has been intimately identified with the
cause of popular education in this city and
State for over fifteen years and in great
measure the present gratifying success of
the public schools of Portland, is due to
her excellent management.
Miss Sabin is assisted in the management of
the High School by the following corps of
teachers: Mr. L. F. Henderson, principal's
assistant; Miss H. F. Spalding, Miss
Christina MacConnell, Mrs. Alice C. Gove,
Mrs. Margaret Allen, Mr. Calvin U.
Gantenbein and Miss Lillian E. Pool.
Couch and Failing Schools
At the annual meeting of the taxpayers, held
March 6, 1882, the board of directors were
authorized to purchase two blocks for school
purposes-one in the northern and the other
in the southern part of the city and to
erect on each a school building. The board
bought block 159, Couch's addition, and
block 55, Caruther's addition. On the last
named block a two-story, wooden building, of
twelve rooms, was completed in October,
1883, at a cost of $38,800, upon which was
bestowed the name of the Failing school, in
honor of Josiah Failing. The building in the
Couch addition, an exact counterpart of the
Failing school, was completed in 1884. The
latter was named in honor of Capt. John H.
Couch, who, with Josiah Failing, was a
member of the first board of directors after
the re-organization of the district in 1856.
Miss Anna M. Burnham has been principal of
the Failing school ever since its
organization and is assisted by fourteen
assistant teachers. Miss Georgia L. Parker
was principal of the Couch school for one
year, since which Justus Burnham has held
the position. Thirteen assistant teachers
are employed.
The Lownsdale Primary is a separate
department of the Portland school system;
but at present occupies quarters in the High
School building. Miss Carrie Packard is
principal. Six subordinate teachers are
employed.
Since September, 1886, a school has been
maintained on Portland Heights, known as the
Ainsworth School, named in honor of Capt. J.
C. Ainsworth, a former director. Miss Marian
S. Clarke is principal.
The school buildings possessed by the
district are not only well adapted to the
purposes for which they were built, but
those constructed within the past few years
add greatly to the architectural appearance
of the city. They number, including the High
School, six, five of which have twelve rooms
each, while the seating capacity of all the
public schools is 4,500. Upon these
buildings the district has expended over
$250,000. The property of the district
comprises five and one-half blocks of
ground, while the buildings thereon and
their contents are valued at $375,000.
There are three departments in the scheme of
the public schools -Primary, Grammar and
High. The Primary is divided into four
grades, each requiring one year to complete.
The Grammar department has the same number
of grades, requiring four years to complete.
The High school course requires three and
four years work, according to the course
pursued. The English or general course can
be completed in three years, while the
classical requires four years.
The studies pursued in the Primary and
Grammar department are similar to those
commonly taught in such schools. The High
school has a liberal course of study,
consisting of higher mathematics, the
Natural Sciences, Latin, German, Mental
Philosophy, Political Economy, Rhetoric,
English Literature, General History,
Elocution and Constitutional Government.
Ninety-five teachers are employed in the
public schools, exclusive of the
superintendent. The present annual cost of
maintaining this corps of employees is about
$80,000.
Following is a complete list of teachers in
service at the close of the school year in
June, 1889.
Miss Ella C. Sabin, city Superintendent and
Principal of the High School; Miss Ellen C.
Turner, teacher of Drawing; Miss Ella E.
Mitchell, teacher of Vocal Music; Mrs.
Margaret Allen, Miss Tillie C. Amos, Mrs. A.
B. Anderson, Miss Jessie Anderson, Mrs. M.
L. Aram, Miss A. L. Atwood, Mrs. Isabel
Baker, Miss M. S. Barlow, Mrs. E. F. Berger,
Miss Belle Bitely, Miss E. L. Bridgeford,
Mrs. Sarah M. Buck, Miss A. M. Burnham, Mrs.
Jennie Burnham, Mr. Justus Burnham, Miss
Emma Butler, Miss L. Buckenmeyer, Miss Lulu
Campion, Miss Jennie Caples, Miss M. S.
Clarke, Miss Kate M. Colburn, Miss Myra J.
Cooper, Mr. T. H. Crawford, Miss E. E.
Crookham, Miss A. J. Davey, Miss Cora David,
Miss Josie Davis, Miss H. A. Davidson, Miss
E. F. Davison, Miss A. G. DeLin, Miss A. L.
Dimick. Miss Ione Dunlap, Mr. C. U.
Gantenbein, Mrs. May Garman, Mrs. A. C.
Gove, Miss Alice A. Gove, Miss Minnie Gray,
Miss Nettie Gray, Mrs. C. E. Greene, Mrs. V.
F. Good-win, Miss Sarah D. Harker, Mrs.
Sarah E. Harker, Mr. L. F. Henderson, Miss
Mary C. Hill, Miss Elsie Hoyt, Miss A. C.
Jennings, Miss Jennie E. Jones, Miss Blanche
R. Kahn, Miss Kate Kingsley, Miss Anna E.
Knox, Miss Anna M. Knapp, Miss Sophia
Lawrence, Miss C. F. Lamberson, Mrs. E. H.
Leisk, Miss C. M. Lindsay, Miss C. Mac
Connell, Miss Luella Maxwell, Miss Lucy S.
Merwin, Miss Mary McCarthy, Miss E. J.
McIntyre, Mrs. E. W. McKenzie, Miss Minnie
Michener, Miss Mary N. Millard, Mrs. E. D.
Miller, Miss Bertha Moore, Miss Eugenia
Morse, Miss Clara Mundt, Miss Alice Parrish,
Miss F. Plummer, Miss Lillian ' E. Pool,
Miss M. L. Powell, Mr. I. W. Pratt, Miss Eva
S. Rice, Miss E. G. Robinson, Miss R. E.
Rounds, Miss H. A. Salisbury, Miss T.
Schermerhorn, Miss Kate L. Shuck, Mrs. C. R.
Simpson, Miss M. J. Smith, Miss Josie
Southard, Miss H. F. Spalding, Miss Mary
Spaulding, Miss Ida Springstead, Miss H. C.
Stewart, Miss L. C. Stout, Mrs. N. E. Swope,
Miss Mina Tregellas, Miss Edith Van Vleet,
Miss Kate Wallace, Miss Bessie Wilson, Miss
Margaret Wilson, Mrs. Eva D. Wills, Mrs. A.
J. White.
Of the above, Mr. I. W. Pratt, has been
employed in the public schools for twenty
years, while Mr. T. W. Crawford and Miss
Ella C. Sabin have been in continuous
service for a period of fifteen years, and
Miss A. L. Atwood, Miss A. M. Burnham, Miss
Jennie Caples, Miss A. L. Dimick, Mrs. A. C.
Gove, Mrs. Sarah E. Harker, Mr. L. F.
Henderson, Miss C. MacConnell, Miss M. L.
Powell, Miss R. E. Rounds, Miss H. F.
Spalding, and Miss Ellen C. Turner, have
been employed for more than ten years.
